Snout puller



Nov. 28, 1939. o. c. SCHMIDT SNOUT FULLER Filed July 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NUI /Nl/E/Vra Patented Nov. 28, 1939 A' UNITEDv` STA-'res vaiiela'i orifice Application July 11, 1938, Serial N0. 218,709

20 claims.

v My invention relates to snout pullers for pulling the snouts of hogs and the like in the butchering industry.

It ils the object of myv invention tov provide new and lmproved pulling 'means for the snout, to

provide new and improved means whereby to pot i s1t1on the head of the animal of which the snout is to be pulled with relation to the pulling implement; to provide new and improved releasing means for the pulled snout; and to provide new and improved mounting means and adjustmg means for the respective parts of my improved device.

.My invention consists in new and improved the disk with relation to the pick that said face serves as aisupport for the snout in a plane transverse to the axis ,of rotation of the disk tol steady the snout end of the head with relation to the path of the pick in order to have the pick t properly engage the snout; further, in a novel support for the head; further, in novel stripping means to release the pulled snout from the pick,

and novel operating means for the same; further, in novel means for adjusting the operating means and for controlling` the moment of release of the snout from the pick; and, further, inv a novel mounting for the operating disk and novel adjusting means for the latter.

The invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in whichlatter:

Fig. l isa front elevation of my improved device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,-partly broken away.v f i Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section of the same, taken on the irregular line 3 3 of Fig. l, and partly broken'away.

Fig. 4 isal vertical section of a detail of the driving means ofr my improved device, taken inv the plane of the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a rear view/of the same in associationl with thev snout pulling disk, partly in section in the plane of the line 1 7 of Fig. 6, and partly broken away; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a fragmentary view'of the snout pulling disk, the support and the head of a hog in association therewith, the head of the hog being marked or slit to define the line of severance between the skull portion of the skin, fat andv meat and the jaw portion thereof.

A frame I I is providedfwith a top I2, rigidly connecting the ends I3, I4 of the frame, thel ends being also connected by lower cross-bars I5, it, bolted to said ends.

A snout pulling head or disk 2l is suitably rof tatively mounted and. driven.4 It is exemplified as comprising a` face plate 22, from the margins of,` which an outer peripheral flange 23 extends rearwardly, strengthening ribs 24,25', 26 being provided on the back of said face plate,` and segmental ribs 2'IV on said back connecting said ribs. Theface round.k

The disk is provided with'asnout pick 3I Two of these snout picks are shown on the diskat diametrically opposite'positions thereon. The snout pick is shown aswcomprising a base 32, which has picking prongs 33 projecting therefrom, the picking-prongs having aspace 34 between them, and the prongs being separated from the disk by spaces 35. The snout pick isV secured in a `shouldered groove 29in the face of the disk by means'of bolts 36, which extend through lugs 3l! on thedisk from the rear thereof and are threadedy into Athe basse of the pick for .firmly securing the pick to the disk, the shoulders y 28 between the snout pick andthe disk resisting the blows `upon the pick.

The picks on the opposite sides of the disk have their prongs projected inopposite directions when viewed vfrom the front of the machine, but they project rotatively inthe same direction, so that as the disk is rotated the advance or entering 4points or ends 3l of the prongs areprojected forplat-e or `disk issubstantially wardly in the direction of rotation of lthe disk so as to enter the nostrils 38 rof the snout 39, when the snout pickreaches the position of the head 4l] being operated on to sever-or pull the snout from the head during the continuing rotation of the disk, which severing is done with a downward and lateral pull to aid in the severing action after an'initial forceful blow upon the snout.

A support 43 is provided for the carcass head,

the support having a downwardly curved ordished depression 44 therein, forming a preferably shape of said neck end, the outer margin of said neck end` being flrrned yand confined by the lateral walls 46, 41 of said depression, and the rear wall 4B of the same, so as to provide a rm support for said neck end.

A trough 5| connects with said depression, and the head may be conveniently entered into said depression through said trough, the operator usually having a position in front of the outer end of the trough, which is preferably openended. The bottom 52 of said trough preferably slants toward the depression 44, so that any liquid therein may ow into the depression, 'and thev lower wall of the depression is provided with a hole 53 through which the liquid therein may escape. l

One or more positioning pins 54 are also preferably provided in the bottom of this support at the inner end of the trough for aiding in positioning the head, the positioning pins entering into the neck end of the head or having the front portion of the margin thereof bear against said pins, to additionally 'prevent shifting of said neck end on said support and to rm said neck end on said support. The positioning pin is preferably a taper pin releasably secured in a tapered hole 55 in the bottom wall of the support for renewal or substitution of pins of different lengths to best hold heads of different sizes.

The support 43 for the head is on a bracket 56 which extends from the frame. The cross- .barl I5 may be a part of this bracket, bolts 5l yextending through slots 58 in said bracket to permit'adjustment of said support toward and from the disk and to secure the same in adjusted positions. The bracket extends across the plane of the disk but is spaced from said disk by a space 59, and the support 43 is located in such spaced relation from the disk by a space B9 as to permit the snout picks and the pulled snout thereon to pass between said disk and the inner end of saidy support.

The disk is provided with a bearing 64 rotatable about a stub shaft 65 having a head 66 between which and the stub shaft proper there is a flange 6l, the stub shaft being eccentric with relation to the head. The head is located in a bearing 68 in oneof the end members of the frame, is rotatable in said bearing, and is clamped in adjustable positions in said bearing between said flange` and a washer G9 and clamp nut 'I9 at the inner end of the head, the inner end of the head being threaded for receiving the nut. The adjustment of the head rotatively locates its eccentric stub shaft in desired position about the axis of the head. A set bolt .1| is threaded through thebearing. Its inner end is received in an annular groove 'I2 in said head and is clamped against the bottom of said groove for aiding in clamping said head in said bearing and locating said head endwise.

A pulley I5, shown as a sprocket wheel, is xed Vto the disk, being located in an annular rabbet l5 in the inner end of the bearing 64 of the disk, upon` the reduced inner end 'Il of said bearing against a shoulder 18 thereon and clamped to said disk by clamp bolts 9 passing through holes in Asaid sprocket wheel and threaded into thread- :ed holes in the bearing of the disk.

'I'he driving means for the machine are exemplified as an electric motor 89 secured in hanging relation to the top of the frame. For securing adjustable positioning of the motor, the motor is mounted on an adjustable motor plate 8|, shown as a pivoted plate provided with bearings 82. Lugs 83 extend downwardly from the top I2 and are provided with bearings 84 which register with the bearing 82. A pivot rod 85 is located in said bearings for pivotally supporting the motor plate for the electric motor, the pivot rod being held in axial direction by a set bolt S5, threaded in one of said bearings. A threaded Stud 8T is xed in the top l2 and extends through a hole 88 in the motor plate. Nuts 89, 99 threaded about said stud at opposite faces of said motor plate adjust the motor plate and clamp the same in adjusted positions.

The rotor shaft 93 of the motor has a pulley 94 secured thereto, a flexible drive connection 95 being received thereabout and about a pulley 96 on a shaft 97 of a speed-reducing device 98 mounted on the frame. These pulleys are exemplied as sprocket wheels, and the flexible connection is consequently a sprocket chain. Adjustment of the motor plate 8| adjusts the tension of the flexible drive connection.

The speed-reducing device is exemplied as comprising a separable frame having a supporting member |9| provided with feet |92,through holes |93 in which fastening bolts 94 pass into threadedholes in the top plate I2 for securing the speed-reducing device on the frame with relation to the motor and the disk to be driven thereby, the holes |93 being enlarged with relation to the fastening bolts |94 for permitting shifting of the speed-reducing device on the frame, washers being located between the heads of said bolts and the feet |62 for insuring clamping of said feet in various adjusted positions of the speed-reducing device. g

The shaft 9i is exemplified as a worm shaft and is journaled in bearings |95, |91 in the supporting member of said speed-reducing frame,

and has a worm |93 fixed thereto, the hub of i which has end contact with end thrust bearings naled in bearings il, I I8 in the frame 9B. These bearings are shown as split bearings, parts whereof are located respectively in the supporting member 9| of the frame 98 and in a cap member I9 of said frame, the cap member being secured to the supporting member by means of bolts |29 passing through holes in lugs |2| in said members and having clampnuts |22 threaded to their threaded ends. The supporting member and the cap member have enveloping walls |23 for enclosing the worm and worm wheel.

The shaft I I6 is arranged to drive a pulley |25 concentric thereabout, and so connected therewith as to part the driving connection upon excess resistance by the snout pulling disk. Thus a bushing |23 is xed to the shaft I I6 as by a key i2@ and by means of countersunky set screws |39 threaded in said bushing against said key and the shaft i6, for xing the bushing rotatively and axially to said shaft. The pulley |25 is provided with a hub 33| located about the outer periphery of the bushing |28 and held endwise to the latter by means of a bolt |32 threaded in the hub iti, the inner end of the bolt being pin |36 is located and held endwise by nuts |31 over its threaded ends. Upon excess resistance to the drive, the shear pin is sheared to prevent accident.

The shaft ||6 is held endwise in its bearing by having the inner e'rid of the bushing |28 bear against one end of said bearing, a collar |38 being fixed, as by a set bolt |39, to said shaft, the collar bearing against'the other end of said bearing for holding the shaft endwise in said bearing. f

A flexible driving connection, shown as a sprocket chain f li, is received about the pulleys 15, 25, exemplified as sprocket wheels, for driving the snout pulling disk by means of said speed reducing device. A protecting cover l il is located about said sprocket chain S5 and pulleys 94, 96, and is suitably secured to the frame.

The snout pulling head or disk has strippers mounted thereon to strip the pulled snouts from the snout picks at a suitable radial point about the axis of the snout pulling disk to deliver the snouts as desired upon an operating table |45 or for other disposition, as may be desired. Twoy of such strippers are shown `coacting with the respective snout picks. The strippers exemplified each comprises an arm MS, operating as a lever,l

and pivoted by a bearing Ili'l on a shoulder bolt Hi8 threaded into the rear of the pulling disk. This arm has a stripper finger |49 extending therefrom through a slot 56 in the disk'and into the space 34 between the prongs 33 of the snout pick, this linger being located normally at the base of 'said space between the bases of the picking prongs of the snout pick. The other end of the arm is provided with an actuating lug |53 extending therefrom through a hole |54 in the pulling der seit :el threaded in e threaded hele |52 of said knock-out arm and held in place by a jam nut l. The actuating lug |53y of the kstripper lever contacts said roller for actuating the stripper lever and moving its stripper iinger in the slotv |50 from the base ends of the picking prongs to the outer ends of the latter for stripping the snout on said picking prongs oif of the ,same'for further disposition of the snout.

A spring liili, the respective ends of which are 'secured' to the heel end of the stripper lever and the body of the disk, normally returns the stripper finger to normal position at the base ends of the picking prongs as soon as the knock-out end of the stripper'lever has passed its actuating member, or knock-out roller, regardless yof kthe angular position of the actuating member. Ihe knock-out lug may be provided with a bevel face |66, terminating in a rounded portion |61 for smoothness of operation. The pulling disk is exemplified as rotatable in the direction of the arrow a during the stub shaft while its head is being clamped in said bearing. y

The head 40 of the carcass may at each side thereof be provided with an incision |69 extending through the' skin and such portion of the fat and meat of the head as may be desired and preferablyv may be desired. These incisions may be dise.

pensed with. v

In operation, the neck end of the head is placed on the support with its margin confined between the walls or flanges d6, 41 and 48 to`iirm saidY margin, the pins 54 aiding in such positioning and firming. The head is placedv with its snout resting against the front face of the disk, forming a convenient means for positioning the snoutwith relation to the picking prongs in advance of the arrival ofv said prongs at the snout position. Upon arrival of one of the snout picks atthe position of the snout, the picking prongs enter the snout, for instance, the nostrils thereof, and exert a blow and pressure thereon to tear the snout and that portion of the skin, fatand meat at the top of the head which it is desired to sever from the balance of the head as the snout pick advances in its rotation about the axis of the disk.

The snout pick strikes the snout when descending at a position above the level of theaxis of the disk, which position or point of striking contact with the snout of a usual size head is approximately at an angle intersecting said axis in a range of thirty to forty degrees from the horizontal plane in which said axis is-located, but may vary at greateror less angles depending on the size of the head, -providing extreme range of sizes of heads for which my imp-roved device is adapted.

The snout is supported on the front face ofy the disk preparatory to its being struck by the snout pick throughout the entire range, and the action of the pick on the head is throughout that arc of the circle which is most nearly downward with relation to the support 43, so that the resistance of `the support to the blow is most nearly upright with relation to the bottom of the support to make the blow and severing action of the snout pick most effective.

The pulling of the snout and the portions of skin, fat and meat therebelow and at its sides proceeds with the advance of the snout pick,

which has a downward' lateral arcuate path, for

The snout pick and the snout and the attached portions pulled thereby, move in the space-HI between the disk and the head beingoperated'on and in thespace 66 betweenthe disk and the inner end of the support. attached portions are' confined 'by the disk, the head and the inner end of the support, .and are held forwardlybythe front face of the disk. pulled portion is bent across the rear wall |38 of the support, which aids in peeling the same from the head and providing a clear severance thereof from the head, the position of the neck end being maintained `.by its location in the depression of its support and protuberances |12 in the bottom wall thereof, as well as by the walls about the The` same, and the locating pins 54 at the rear of the head position, which aid in iirming the margin of the neck end ofthe head.

The severed snout moves with the snout pick until it is stripped therefrom by the stripper, and the stripper acts at the desired angular point in its path, depending on the further `operation desired upon the pulled snout. This angular point may be adjusted by adjusing the position of the knock-out arm about the axis of the snout disk. In the relation shown in Fig. l, the stripping will take place when the snout pick arrives at approximately the bottom of its path of rotation, for discharging the severed snout upon the table 45 in position for having an operative perform such trimming operations as desired upon the severed snout, as, for instance, severing the meat and fat therefrom and suitably depositing the same and disposing of the gristle and skin and other portions of the snout. The remaining portion of the head is removed from the support and placed on the table or otherwise disposed of for subsequent operations thereon;

The adjustment of the axis of the snout disk about the axis of the head of the stub shaft, positions the disk laterally with relation to the support 43, for adjusting the path cf the snout pick with relation to the support for the head. Angular adjustment of the stripper arm provides for adjustment of the release position of the severed snout about the axis of the snout disk, determining the stripping moment, for depositing the snout at desired distance from the head support 43. The speed-reducing mechanism and the driving connections are preferably such as to impart approximately seven and one-half revolutions per minute to the snout pulling disk, which has 'been found a desirable speed with the employment of two snout picks placed diametrically opposite each other on the pulling disk.

It will be noticed that in my improved device the support for the head as well as the pulling disk overhang laterally beyond the frame of the machine, so as to provide clear space at the sides and front of the same, as 'well as below the same, for ready manipulation of the head being operated on, and oi the pulled snout. The placing f the snout picks on the face of the disk permits such exposed mounting of the snout disky and the support for the head to be obtained, and enables the head to be positioned in such mannei that the snout of the animal, before being pulled, is guided against the face of the disk so as to be in proper position for engagement oi the snout pick therewith.

It iur-ther comprises a compact device which may be supported in suitable position on the operating table, being preferably bolted thereon, so that the operator has free space on the table about the machine for conveniently and quickly placing the head on the support of the machine, and for the passing the head from the support, after the snout has been pulled, to the table in convenient position for being operated upon by an operative who trims such portion of the head as may be desired preparatory to the next operation on the head, which is usually that of separating the jaw from the top of the head.

I claim:

1. A snout puller comprising a rotatable pulling disk provided with a snout pick projecting in the direction of the axis of rotation of said disk outwardly from the face of said disk and rotatable with said disk, the said face extending transversely to the axis of rotation of said disk and being a supporting guide against which to rest the snout end of the head of the carcass to position said snout in the rotary path of said snout pick preparatory to being struck by said snout pick.

2. A snout puller comprising a rotatable pulling disk provided with a snout pick projecting in the direction of the axis of rotation of said disk outwardly from the face of said disk and rotatable with said disk, the said face being a supporting guide extending transversely to the axis of rotation of said disk against which to supportingly guide the snout end of the head of the carcass to position said head with relation to the rotary path of said snout pick, and constructed to strip said snout and the portions adhering thereto with a downward and lateral movement transversely to said head.

3. A snout puller comprising a rotatable pulling disk provided with a snout pick projecting in the direction of the axis of rotation of said disk outwardly from the front face of said disk and rotatable with said disk, and a support having a supporting seat for the neck end of the carcass head in front of said disk and spaced by a space from said front face for the leaning of a carcass head supported on said seat past said space against said front face for coaction of the snout end of said head with said front face of said disk as a guide inthe path of said snout pick ior coaction of said snout pick with the snout.

4. A snout puller comprising a frame, a pulling disk mounted to rotate in overhanging relation outwardly from said frame above the level of the bottom of said frame, and a snout pick on said pulling disk provided with picking prongs projecting forwardly of the front face of said pulling disk and rotatable with said pulling disk, said frontface being a supporting face for the snout of the carcass head, and said front face and said picking prongs rotating in 4parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said pulling disk spaced from each other' along said axis.

5. In a snout puller, the combination of a rotatable pulling head provided with a projecting snout pick, a snout stripper mounted on said head and comprising a stripper nger operating adjacent to said snout pick to strip the pulled snout therefrom, a knock-out part with which said snout stripper coacts for stripping movement of said stripper inger to strip the snout, and adjusting means to time the angular position of said stripper at the moment of stripping movement of said stripper finger.

6. In a snout puller, the combination of a rotatable pulling head provided with a projecting snout pick rotatable with said head, a. snout stripper mounted on said head and rotatable therewith and comprising a stripper finger operating adjacent to said snout pick to strip the pulled snout from said snout pick, a knock-out part for said snout stripper, means whereby to angularly adjust said knock-out part to adjust the moment of stripping movement of said stripper, and means to return said stripper to normal position immediately after stripping movement thereof regardless of the angularly adjusted position of said knock-out part.

7. In a snout puller, the` combination of a pulling disk, a snout pick on said pulling disk projecting outwardly from the outer face of said disk, a snout stripper pivoted on said disk and comprising a stripper finger coacting with said snout pick and an operating lug, said stripper .on said studfto` overhang beyond said frame, speed reducing means for saidpulling disk mountdisk, a 'snout .stripper .pivoted on said disk and comprising a stripper iinger coacting with said snout pick and an operating lug, said stripperl linger and said operating lug vprojecting outwardly beyond said outer face, a knock-out at said outer face to operate said snout stripperfor stripping the pulled snout from said snout pick, and

means to adjust the angular position of said knock-out about the axis of said pulling disk to adjust the moment of stripping movement of said stripper linger.

9. In a snout` puller, the combination of a pulling disk, a snout `pick thereon projecting outwardly Vfrom the outer face of said disk, a stripper lever at the inner face of said disk pivoted to said disk and comprising a stripper nger and an operating lug projecting through said disk, said stripper finger coacting with said snout pick, a spring to normally retract said stripper lever, and a contact part at the outer face of said disk with which said operating lug coacts to operate said stripper lever.

-10. In a. snout pulleigthe combination of a pulling disk, a snout picker thereon projecting outwardly from the outer face of said disk, a stripper lever at the inner face of said disk pivoted to said disk and comprising a stripper finger and an operating lug projecting through said disk, said stripper finger lcoacting with said snout pick, a spring to normally retract said stripper lever, a contact part at the outerl face of said disk with which said operating lug coacts to operate said stripper lever, and means for angular adjustment of said contact part about the axis of said pulling disk to adjust the stripping moment of said stripper lever.

11. In a snout puller, the combination of a rotatable pulling head provided with a projecting snout pick rotatable with said head, a snout stripper mounted on said head and rotatable therewith and comprising a stripper nger operating adjacent tov saidsnout pick to strip the pulled snout from said snout pick, a knock-out part for said snout stripper, means whereby to angularly adjust said knock-out part about the axis of rotationoi said pulling head to adjust the moment of stripping movement of said stripper, ay flexible driving connection for rotating said head, and means for adjusting the transverse position of the axis of rotation of said pulling head to adjust the tension of said flexible driving connection during maintenance of angular adjustment of said knockout part.

12. In a snout puller, the combination of ay frame, a pulling disk, a stud mounted in said frame and having a portion projecting outwardly beyond-said frame, said pulling disk journaled on said stud to overhang beyond said frame, a speed reducing device for said pulling disk mounted on said frame, driving means between said speed reducing device and said pulling disk, and snout pulling means on the face of said pulling disk distanced from said frame 13. In a snout puller, the combination of 'a frame, a pulling ydisk,'a stud mounted in said frame and having a portion projecting outwardly beyond said frame, said pulling disk journaled ed on l'said `frame, iiexible driving means between said fspee-d reducing means and said pulling disk vlocated in :a vplane parallel with said pulling disk between said vframe and said pulling disk, means to adjust said stud laterally for adjusting the tension-ci said iiexible driving means, and snout pui-lling means on thev face of said pulling disk disytanced from said frame.

In a `snoutpuller, the combinationv of a pu ling head, a snout pick on said pulling head, 1

a snout stripper on said pulling head and comprising a strip-per iinger coacting with said snout pick to strip the pulled snout from the latter, a contact part with which said snout stripper engages to move said stripper nger to stripl the pulled snout from said snout pick, and means whereby to adjust thecontact moment between said snout stripper and said contact part.

l5. In a snout puller, the combination of a ing'head, a snout stripper on said pulling head v and comprising a stripper finger coacting with ger in stripping direction, and means whereby rotatable pulling head, a snout pick on said pulll to adjust said contact part angularly with relation to said rotatable pulling head to control the contact moment between said snout stripper and said contact part and thereby to determine the angular position of said snout pick at the moment of stripping movement of said stripper finger. f

16. In a snout puller, the combination of a rotatable pulling disk having a snout supporting face, a snout pick mounted in` said face androtatable with said pulling disk, a support for the carcass head coacting `with said supporting face to support the` carcass head, said support being provided with a depression for the neckend vof saidl carcass heard and upstanding walls for the inner and side margins of said depression to rrn said neck-end in said depression, and rming pins at the outer margin of said depression.

17. In a snout puller, the combination of a rotatable pulling disk having a snout supporting face, a snout pick mounted in said face and rotatable with said pulling disk, and a support for the carcass head coacting withV said supporting face to support the carcass head, said support being provided with a depression for the neck end of said carcass head and a deilecting wall at the margin of said depression between said depression and said supporting face to deflect the tail end of the snout being pulled by the snout pick during rotation of said pulling disk.

1S. .In a snout puller, thel combination of a rotatable pulling disk having a snout supporting face, a snout pick mounted in said face and rotatable with said pulling disk, a support for the carcass head coacting with said supporting face to support the carcass head, said support being provided with a depression for the neck end of said carcass head, and a trough extending forwardly from said depression and slanting toward said depression to drain into said depression, and the lower wall of said depression provided with a drain opening. f y j 19. In a snout puller, the combination of a rotatable pulling diskprovided with a front supporting face for the snout of the carcass head substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said pulling disk, a snout pick on said 75 pulling disk in the cylindrical plane of said front supporting face, and a support for the carcass head, said support being provided with a depression for the neck end of said carcass head partly inside and partly outside said cylindrical plane, constructed for having the carcass head supported by the wall of said depression at its neck end and by said front vsupporting face at its snout end.

20. A snout puller comprising a frame, 'a stud on said frame projecting outwardly beyond said frame, a pulling disk mounted on said stud in overhanging relation outwardly from said frame,

a snout pick on said pulling disk projecting forwardly fromthe front face of said pulling disk, a speed reducing device on said frame, and a exible driving means extending outwardly beyondsaid frame between said speed-reducing device and said pulling disk and comprising a partable driving connection to part upon excess resistance between said snout pick and the carcass head being operated yon to protect said overhanging parts from damage.

OSCAR C. SCHNIIDT. 

